Hydroplane, also applicable to hydroaeroplanes.



C. J. LAKE.

HYDROPLANE, ALSO APPLICABLE TO HYDROAEROPLANES. APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 17, m1.

L il 350 Patented June 17, 1919.

ATTORNEYS.

IINITED STATEfl PATENT UFQ.

CHRISTOPHER J. LAKE, 0F BRIDGEPOR'I', CONNECTICUT.

HYDROPLANE, ALSO APPLICABLE TO HYDROAEROPLANES.

' memes.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented June 11?, T9199.

Application filed September 17, 1917. Serial No. 191,712.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, CHRISTOPHER J. LAKE, a

citizen of the United States, and resident of tion for vessels, such as hydroplanes, either when used as water craft alone, or when forming the base support for the type of aircraft known as hydroaeroplanes or seaplanes.

The float member which is the basis of my improvements, is a development of the corresponding float included, in my earlier patents Nos. 913515 and 1,041,489, which were so devised as to permit the introduction of a layer of elastic fluid between the float and the body of supporting water, to serve as a friction reducing medium: I

The leading characteristics of my said improvements may be summarized as 1) The float is so constructed as to present to the water surface an entrapped strata of elastic fluid upon which it is sup- I ported while either at rest or in motion.

This strata of elastic fluid maybe either air, or mingled air and exhaust products from a propelling motor. Whether the float be a hydroplane or the base support of a hydroaeroplane, the principles governing its employment with relation to a supporting body of water are substantially the same, with the addition, in the case of a hydroaeroplane,

that certain inherent advantages accruetherein through the coordinated arrangement of the float and the supporting unit.

(2) Thus the float, which may be deeply immersed in the body of supporting water, may rise out of the water at an ascending angle, whereby the supporting unit, whose angle of incidence is set to present the least resistance to the wind while afloat, will become angled to a point where the hydroaeroplane may the most readily rise from the surface of the water.

(3) The float may lie high upon the surface of the water, over a maximum depth of intervening elastic fluid; but when, as in the case of a hydroplane,.floating at rest in the presence of heavy winds, or rough seas, it is desirable to immerse the float more deeply, I am enabled to lower it in the body of water by exhausting some of the entrapped elastic fluid.

Thus, variability in the depth of immersion of the float is attained and may be placed within the control of the operator.

(4) My improved float. which resembles an inverted vessel, is provided at its open base with a succession of transverse, longitudinally arranged, spaced aquafoils,whieh exercise various functions, viz: of enabling the float, under headway, to rise readily toward the surface from its point of submergence;

to leave the surface with a minimum of drag: and. to exercise an entraining or siphoning action with respect to the interior of the float; whereby, under the condition of the motor exhaust opening into said float,the suction createdby the water passing said aquafoils is diminished.

(5) By reason of the entrapping character of the float, a hydroaeroplane with such a float will, when alighting on water, tend to further compress the entrapped elastic fluid which thus ofi'ers yielding resistance, and, to a certain extent, cushions the impact of the float upon the water.

Other features and advantages of my invention will hereinafter appear.

In the drawing Figure 1 is an elevation of a hydroaeroplane having my improvements.

Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the same.

Fig. is a side sectional view of the float.

Fig. 4is a cross sectional view of the same.

Fig. 5 is a top plan view, and

Fig. 6 is a bottom plan view.

In the drawing I have illustrated my improved float as forming part of an aquairplane or hydroaeroplane, but I am aware that the fundamental principles of invenaction, '5. e.caused to open by the outward flow of exhaust gases, and held open thereby,

partments, containing air, or some buoyant material, and they may have suflicient buoyanc to revent the structure from sinking.

Elirten ing transversely across the float, at the bottom thereof, is a series of aquafoils 6, separated from each other by spaces 7, and whose forward portions are upwardly inclined. The aq uafoils extend longitudinally, in overlapping arrangement throughout the length of the otherwise open bottom of the float, following its lower contour. This conformation, which under the bow portion is of the nature of a hydroplane angle vor curve, inclines mavardly toward the stern, for a purpose to described hereinafter,

The aquafoils also possess the function, particularlywhen the float is deeply immersed, of affording an anchorage or purchase which tends to prevent a rolling or pitching action of the float.

The float is shown as supporting a fuselage 8 by struts 9, and aerofoils representing a supporting unit are indicated at 10. A propelling motor is also indicated, at 11, be cause the exhaust therefrom may be utilized in the performance of my invention. Auxiliary thereto will be noted air pipe 12, opening into the interior of the float, and having check ValVe13; this air pipe also serving as a duct to convey exhaust gases from the motor to 'thefioat interior, for which purpose air pipe 12 is caused to represent the exhaust manifold.

The check valve 13 may be automatic in said check valve closing under the compres sion pressure of the entrapped air and gases with the impact force of the hydroaeroplane alighting upon the water surface, thereby preventing flooding of the motor.

It will be apparentthat, when the hydro: aeroplane alights upon the water, the air and gases within the float will become compressed toward the deck portion thereof, so that the impact will have a somewhat yielding character, and thus tend to lessen the.

.shock of landing by afiording a pneumatic cushion.

When at rest upon the water the deck line of the float is substantially parallel with the surface. I preferably arrange the incidence of the su porting unit relatively to said deck .line, so t at it is at a neutral angle. Thus, while the hydroaeroplane is at rest, or floating on water, the drift potentiality is at a minimum. This condition is desirable, to

prevent dragging of anchorage, etc. Usually the supporting unit of a hydroaero'" plane, when floating, presents an angle of incidence in the line of flight, to facilitate leaving the water, but the particular design and characteristics of my float are intended to obviate this necessity. For example, when with the operation of the motor is augmented by the admixture of exhaust gases, the aquafoils, due to their shape, and the upward inclination of their line toward the stern, will pivot the float to turn the bow portion upwardly, thereby increasing the attacking angle of the supporting unit, until the speed pressure becomes suflicient for ascent. It will be evident, from a consideration of my earlier patents, herein referred to, that the layer of air and gases, continuously provided withthe operation of the 80 motor, and which, issuing from the spaces separating the aquafoils, will roll between the under surfaces'thereof and the support ing water, constitutes an anti-frictional bear-" ing which greatly facilitates travel of the float both through and upon the surface of the supporting water; also, in conjunction with the upwardly inclined sternward line, tending to prevent drag of the float in leav ing the water. It will also'be noted that, while traveling upon the water, the aquafoils assist, by entrainment, under the influence of suction created by the passing flight through the air, a corresponding entraining action will ensue between the aquafoils and supporting pressures, supplemented of course by the exhaust pressures, and the resulting diminution in frictional resistance,

in this instance, will be measurable because of the relatively lighter density of the elastic fluid which is thus introduced between the aquafoils and the air pressures.

It is to be noted that the overlapping spaced relation indicated between succeeding: aquafoil's, has the result of directing rearwardly the expulsiontof elastic. fluid from 11 theyfloat, whereby, through impingement against the supporting medium a degree of propulsive effect. is obtained.

Recurring to the floating condition ofthe device, when it is supported upon the body of water by a layer of compressed air within the float, sealed therein by the water, I provide for varying the degree of immer sion or submergence of the float by means of a relief valve, as 14, which may be entered 'inthe deck 1, and operable by suitable naomae The term aquafoils used by me to designate the leaves whichconstitute the transverse members 6 as the bottom of the float may be equally expressed by 'theabbreviation foils which I employ in'referring to said members in the claims.

While I have inferred herein the use of an internal combustioiremotor as the means of supplying the elastic fluid to the float interior, I do not wish to belimited thereby,

realizing that other known means may be employed for the same purpose.

Variations may be resorted to within the spirit and scope of my invention, and parts thereof used without others.

I claim 1. A float comprising an inverted vessel having a series of longitudinally arranged transverse foils alongits base, said foils separated by exteriorly communicating spaces, a

and said float presenting contained elastic fluid for compression, to provide buoyant support for said float. v

2. A float having buoyant bow and stem portions, an intermediate means for presenting co-extensively therewith an undivided body of elastic fluid as a unitary elementto entrapping and supporting compression by a contacting body of'water.

3. A float having buoyant bow and .stern portions, intermedlate means for presenting a body of elastic fluid to entrapping compression by a contacting body .of water, and means for diminishing the volume of the entrapped elastic fluid, to increase the immersion depth of said float. 4

4. The combination, in a float, of means for presenting an undivided body of elastic fluid, co-extensively with said floatibottom, as

a unitary element to entrapping compression by'a body of water, for the support of said float.

5. The combination, in a float, of means for presenting a body of elastic fluid to en- 'trapping compression by a contacting body of water, for the support of said float, and

means for diminishing the volume of the entrapped elastic fluid, to increase the immersion depth of said float.

6. The combination, in a hydroplane, of means for resenting an undivided body of elastic fluid to entrapping compressionby a body of water, for the support of said hydroplane, a series of foils longitudinally spaced alon the base line of said hydroplane, under whic said elastic fluid entrains in the travel of saidhydroplane, and means-for replenishing the supply of elastic fluid.

7. The combination, in a hydroaeroplane, ofaj'float for its support on water, an aerofoil for its support in air, said aerofoil havfor the discharge of said gases by combinedressure and entraining action, in motion, rom the base of said float.

8. The combination, in a hydroplane, of means for presenting entrapped elastic fluid to compression by a body of water for the support of said hydroplane, and a series of foils longitudinally spaced along the base line of said hydroplane, said foils serving, when the hydroplane is deeply immersed, to secure it against rolling and pitching.

9. The combination, in a hydroplane, of means for presenting an undivided body of elastic fluid to entrapping compression by a body of water for the support of said hydroplane, and a series of foils longitudinally spaced along the base line of said hydroplane, the contour line of said series of foils having an upwardly rearward inclination, to assist in imparting a forward rising angle to said hydroplane, under headway.

10. The combination in a hydroplane comprising an inverted vessel, of a series of foils longltudinally spaced along the base line thereof, a motor, and means for communicating the exhaust gases from'said motor to the interior of said vessel, the pressure of said gases causing their efllux between said foils, and, in motion of the hydro lane, their passage between said foils and tlie supporting water.

11. The combination, in a hydroaeroplane having a motor, of a floattherefor comprising' an inverted vessel, means for communieating exhaust gases from said motor to the float interior, and a check valve operating under the impact pressure of the float in alighting upon a body of water, to closesaid commumcating means and thereby prevent floodin of the motor.

12. he combination with a hollow float,

of a succession of transverse foils comprising the bottom thereof, said foils separated by intervening spaces, a motor, and means for discharging exhaust gases from said motor into said float, for efflux through said spaces and passage between said foils and a supporting fluid body. 13. In combination, a hollow float in the form of an inverted vessel, open at and coextensively with its base, a motor,'and means for dischargi exhaust gases from said motor into said oat, for efllux between said float and a supporting fluid body."

14. The combination with a hollow float in the form of an inverted vessel, open at and co-extensively with its base, a motor, and means for discharging exhaust gases into said float, of means for directing the efllux of said gases rearwardly between said float aid a supporting fluid body, for propulsive eflect.

15. The combination with a hollow float, of a succession of transverse foils comprising the bottom thereof, said foils separated Edit by intervening spaces, a motor, and means Fairfield and State of Connecticut, this 12th for dischargin exhaust gases from said moday of September, A. D. 1917. tor into sa1d oat, said foils directing the efilux of said gases with propulsive effect CHRISTOPHER LAKE -5 through said spaces against a supporting Witnesses:

fluid body. CARL Fos'mn,

Signed at- Bridgeport, in the county of MARY E. 

